Donny Malen’s first red card of his career left Roma with an unwelcome interruption before Wednesday’s meeting with Real Madrid at the Olimpico, but the forward’s response has underlined the standing he has built within the squad during a remarkable 2026.
After the final whistle in Como, Marten de Roon was the first player to offer Malen comfort, before Gian Piero Gasperini and the rest of the group joined him. The Dutchman had made a rash challenge, yet there was no suggestion that he had intended to hurt his opponent. Still, he viewed the dismissal as a failure to his coach and team-mates, leaving the pitch and stadium with his head down.
Malen apologised immediately inside the dressing room, then chose to make the message public. Writing in Italian, something he rarely does, he posted: “I apologise to the team and the supporters.”
The reaction around him was supportive rather than accusatory. His wife replied with a heart and a sad-face emoji, while Roma supporters filled the comments with messages of encouragement. Hearts also arrived from Roma’s account and from De Roon.
A setback before Real Madrid
The incident means Malen is expected to have a break from league action, with attention now turning quickly towards Real Madrid’s visit to the Olimpico on Wednesday. Roma will hope the frustration of Como becomes fuel for a player who has rediscovered momentum under Gasperini this year.
A film crew from Amazon Prime, which will show the Real Madrid match in Italy, recently travelled to the Netherlands to explore Malen’s development and the path behind his revival. There has been growing interest in how Gasperini has restored the forward’s confidence and sense of responsibility.
The improvement cannot simply be reduced to a change of formation, and Malen himself recognises that. His work with the coach and the team has helped give him a renewed place in Roma’s season, which explains why the red card weighed so heavily on him.
But the calendar does not allow much time for reflection. By the following day, Roma’s focus had already shifted towards Madrid, and Malen has the opportunity to answer the disappointment of Como on one of the biggest European nights at the Olimpico.
